# Wichita lineman off the line. **URL:** \ **Category:** Entertainment and Pop Culture\ **Created:** [August 8, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764 "2017-08-08T22:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@dougc](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/dougc)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/1 "2017-08-08T22:12:04Z")
Glen Campbell died today at age 81. He appeared on over 500 albums often as a backing guitarist for groups like the Beach Boys and The Byrds. [http://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/glen-campbell-dead-at-81](http://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/glen-campbell-dead-at-81) One of his best, Wichita lineman. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/centerforinquiry/original/2X/1/122135014f538e377be08ab9c709150c98533705.jpeg "WITCHITA LINEMAN , GLEN CAMPBELL , 1968 VINYL LP") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKeqXyY-9xA) R.I.P. Glen Campbell ---
**Author:** ![advocatus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@advocatus](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/advocatus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/2 "2017-08-09T13:44:44Z")
I was saddened to hear about this yesterday, although I had known he was suffering from Alzheimer’s. He was extraordinarily talented. One of my fondest memories was an NCO club in Mississippi in the late 70s that had a juke box. One of the most popular recordings on it was Glen Campbell playing the William Tell overture, on the guitar! Wow! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev3/32/17_2.png) [@citizenschallengev3](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/3 "2017-08-09T16:40:12Z")
> One of his best, Wichita lineman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKeqXyY-9xA R.I.P. Glen Campbell Yeah, an amazing song for sure. Gonna have it playing in my head most the day I figure. This gal describes it well: > Reflections On a Perfect Song: “Wichita Lineman" Posted by: Mindy Peterman September 5, 2010 **http://blogcritics.org/reflections-on-a-perfect-song-wichita/** In 1968, when I first heard “Wichita Lineman," I was struck by how perfect a song it was. Simple, heartfelt, entrancing. Gorgeous. My feelings for the song have never abated. Shimmering strings pour through the speakers like liquid gold before Glen Campbell’s simple yet evocative narration begins: “I am a lineman for the county/And I drive the main road/Searching in the sun for another overload." The lineman’s loneliness is palpable, and you can picture him driving over flatlands dotted with telephone poles that stretch on and on into a coppery dusk. ... Can't say I followed him much, but his music was beautiful and he helped fill the soundtrack of my youth. It was nice having him around, even if he had his dark sides. _{like don't we all :-/ }_ ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev3/32/17_2.png) [@citizenschallengev3](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/4 "2017-08-09T16:43:22Z")
> This is a perfect song to say Rest In Peace Glen Campbell. Thank you for giving me some wonderful songs, and guitar playing to listen to. Thank you!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzQQoUx1oOU nice. ---
**Author:** ![dougc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@dougc](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/dougc)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/5 "2017-08-09T18:54:35Z")
> I was saddened to hear about this yesterday, although I had known he was suffering from Alzheimer's. He was extraordinarily talented. One of my fondest memories was an NCO club in Mississippi in the late 70s that had a juke box. One of the most popular recordings on it was Glen Campbell playing the William Tell overture, on the guitar! Wow! :) Thanks for mentioning this, Campbell obviously has a great time playing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBhE00h9U0 ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev3](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev3/32/17_2.png) [@citizenschallengev3](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev3)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/6 "2017-08-19T05:41:16Z")
After he passed away I heard an interview with Alice Cooper, turns out they’ve been good buds since way back. He has some nice stories, but what caught my attention was Alice saying that Ben Campbell was among top 10, maybe even top 5 guitarists ever. Now I knew Glen played a mean guitar, but guess I never paid that much attention. This evening got around to doing a little digging. Well damned that boy _was_ hot. (William Tell Overture gets a few seconds 😉 > Glen Campbell Guitar God Bigger-Better-Badder Best Solos of All-Time!!! **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrtWZiguvuY** Diamond's In The Rough > Glen Campbell & Roy Clark Play 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-sExIVBVaw** Andromeda Nebula Might be time for a retrospective? Anyone have any favorite Glen smoking the guitar songs? ---
**Author:** ![advocatus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@advocatus](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/advocatus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/wichita-lineman-off-the-line/5764/7 "2017-08-19T13:25:11Z")
Not bad for a guy who couldn’t read music (at least when he started out as a studio musician).